Kia Ora Maia! I

'''Kia Ora Maia! I''' was the first edition of Kia Ora Maia!, the Nori national selection for the Maia Song Contest. Eight talented Nori musicians battled it out to represent the islands on the Maia stage, aiming to win over the judging panel (Lucy Hale, Britney Spears & Lady Bunny) and the international juries. Ultimately, Cam won with her song "Burning House".

Participants

 * Alyssa Reid is singer-songwriter from Avocawa who has been active on the Nori music scene since 2009, achieving notoriety following the release of her début album, The Game. She recently reached the top of the music charts with her single, "Rollercoaster", however opted to use "Satisfaction Guaranteed" for her entry. Jetsun's burgers will sponsor her fast food restaurant-themed stage performance.
 * Carly Rae Jepsen is a pop singer from the town of Promena, who rose to international fame following the release of her single "Call Me Maybe", which went on to be a global smash hit. Since then she has had numerous top 10 hits in the Nori Islands and Papavertellus, where she has maintained immense popularity. Her entry, "Curiosity", will see its unreleased music video released officially in promotion of her participation.
 * Elva Hsiao is a native Mandarin RnB-pop singer from the Balaloa Island, recognised as a cultural icon for the Mandarin-speaking minority. Speaking to the Nori Journal, Hsiao expressed her excitement for the show but revealed her anxiety over having her music "critiqued with a fine-tooth comb." Hsiao's entry, "Love Detention", is the only entry to feature a language other than English, since she will perform her entry in Mandarin, one of the island's three official languages.
 * Jessie and The Toy Boys is a high-concept pop band starring Eden xo and her 'toy boys', aka a group of mannequins. Following her failure to reach the final in Maia Song Contest 4, Malakouti, disappointed with her result, contacted Namawaka directly in order to participate in the national final. Their entry, "Push It", will feature a rap verse from Yelawolf. On "Push It", Malakouti is quoted as describing it as "hardcore pop with a more niche market."
 * Jaremi Carey, also known as Phi Phi O'Hara, is a drag queen-turned musician from Avocawa. He views Maia as "a brilliant platform for new artists" and would "love to experience being on the world stage". Following controversy involving RuPaul's Drag Race, Carey said that he wants to "clear his name" by impressing the Nori public with his performance of his latest single, "All Mine". Carey wants the world to see "a different side" to Phi Phi.
 * Pandora Boxx, most known for her stint on RuPaul's Drag Race, is a drag queen from Tamukana. Her live performance will reportedly feature various Drag Race alumni on stage. In an interview with the Nori Journal, Pandora said that she hoped that her performance of "Different" would "inspire a new generation of the [LGBT] community."
 * Hilary Duff is a recognised Nori pop culture icon, most known for her role as Lizzie McGuire on Disney Channel. She is extremely popular amongst young people across both of the islands and on being announced as a participant soared to the top of the betting odds. Saying that she "misses the summer", Duff's entry is "Chasing The Sun".
 * Cam is a country singer whose début studio album, "Untamed", was met with high critical acclaim on the islands and she will perform its' lead single, "Burning House" for the national final. Completing the lineup, Cam is "delighted to be representing the country scene" in the national final.

Final
A playlist of the entries can be found here. A recap is available here.